The manner of Mr Tillerson’s dismissal quickly came under scrutiny as it emerged Mr Trump didn’t even bother to talk to him directly before announcing it to the world.

Mr Tillerson found out he had lost his job when a top aide showed him Mr Trump’s tweet.

In a farewell speech at the State Department, Mr Tillerson said the president had called him from Air Force One shortly after midday - more than three hours after his announcement on Twitter.

“I’ll now return to private life as a private citizen, as a proud American, proud of the opportunity I had to serve my country,” he said.

Mr Tillerson thanked his fellow diplomats, State Department colleagues and the American people. Notably, he did not thank Mr Trump.

Camera IconRex Tillerson, outgoing US Secretary of State makes a statement after his dismissal at the State Department. Pic: AFPPicture: AFP

The sacking wasn’t entirely without warning. According to the New York Times, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly had warned Mr Tillerson something was coming in a phone call on Friday.

“You may get a tweet,” Mr Kelly reportedly told him.

Another top State Department official was also fired today after issuing an extraordinary statement throwing shade at the president.

Steve Goldstein, the undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, told the media Mr Tillerson “had every intention of staying because of critical progress made in national security,” and claimed the Secretary of State was “did not speak to the president and was unaware of the reason” for his sacking.

Shortly after Mr Goldstein made that statement, the White House told him he too was fired.

Reaction to Mr Tillerson’s sacking has been typically polarised, with some pundits calling Mr Trump a “coward” for failing to do it to Mr Tillerson’s face, and others pointing out the president needs a secretary of state who shares his views.

The undersecretary of state for public diplomacy, Steve Goldstein, released an extraordinary statement saying Mr Trump never explained to Mr Tillerson the reason why he was fired.

“The Secretary had every intention of staying because of the critical progress made in national security,” Mr Goldstein said in a statement. “The Secretary did not speak to the President and is unaware of the reason, but he is grateful for the opportunity to serve, and still believes strongly that public service is a noble calling.”

Hours later, the White House fired Mr Goldstein by phone.

He had been in the role only three months.

Rumours had been swirling since late last year that Mr Tillerson would be departing.

A senior administration source said Mr Trump had decided on the ouster to “have his new team in place in advance of the upcoming talks with North Korea and various ongoing trade negotiations”.

Mr Tillerson had last week appeared blindsided by Mr Trump’s historic decision to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

Mr Tillerson, the former head of ExxonMobil, reportedly called Mr Trump a “moron” after a July 20 meeting with the US president.

He has refused to deny making the comments despite numerous opportunities.

Mr Trump and Mr Tillerson have been out of step on a number of issues including the Iran nuclear deal, North Korea and Russia.

Mr Tillerson, who had a close relationship with Russia and Vladimir Putin during his time with ExxonMobil, was the only one in the administration yesterday who said Russia was “clearly” involved in the poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in the UK.

Camera IconState Department officials said Donald Trump did not speak with US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson about his departure.Picture: AFP

“Secretary Tillerson is a true patriot that has severed (sic) our nation well. Thank you for serving. Mike Pompeo will be an outstanding Secretary of State — the Senate should act swiftly to confirm him,” he wrote.

Speaking to reporters hours after being unceremoniously fired by Mr Trump in a tweet, Mr Tillerson says he will be formally stepping down from his post at the end of the month and will be delegating his responsibilities at the end of the workday today to Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan..

Mr Tillerson also called for an orderly transition to Mike Pompeo, the CIA director whom Mr Trump has designated as Mr Tillerson’s successor pending confirmation by the Senate. He encouraged State Department employees to remain focused on their jobs.

“As we build out our operations for the 2018 midterm elections and the 2020 re-election campaign, we are pleased to welcome back two outstanding members of our 2016 team,” campaign manager Brad Parscale said.

“We need the help of proven leaders such as Katrina and John to promote the President’s growing portfolio of achievements across the country.”

Mr McEntee, a former University of Connecticut quarterback and star of a viral YouTube trick-throw video, has been with the president since day one.

CNN reported that the former teetotalling alter boy was fired and escorted out of the White House after it emerged that the Department of Homeland Security was investigating him for serious financial crimes.

Mr McEntee was not allowed to collect his belongings when he was escorted from White House grounds. He left without his coat.

FORMER DEPARTING SECRETARIES OF STATE

Mr Trump is not the first Republican president to fire his secretary of state.

Alexander Haig was fired by Ronald Reagan about a year after the assassination attempt on the president.

After Reagan was shot, Mr Haig reportedly said “I am in control here” as a result of Reagan’s hospitalisation, indicating that, while Reagan had not “transferred the helm”, Mr Haig was in fact directing White House crisis management until Vice President George HW Bush arrived in Washington to assume that role.

Mr Trump told reporters that he was “looking at Larry Kudlow very strongly” and noted that while he and Mr Kudlow didn’t agree on the president’s recent decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, Mr Kudlow’s views would be helpful to him.

He noted that Kudlow, an advocate of free trade, is a longtime friend who had been an early supporter of Mr Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign.

Mr Kudlow is CNBC’s senior contributor and was previously the host of CNBC’s prime-time show The Kudlow Report.

He served in the Office of Management and Budget during President Ronald Reagan’s administration.

In addition to Mr Kudlow, potential successors include Chris Liddell, who serves as the White House’s director of strategic initiatives, and Shahira Knight, Gary Cohn’s deputy at the National Economic Council and a key architect of the president’s tax overhaul law.

The president said last week that Mr Cohn, the former top Goldman Sachs executive, was likely to return to his administration in the future.

Camera IconGary Cohn quit in protest as economic adviser but may return to the administration in future.Picture: AFP, AFP photo/Brendan Smialowski

Mr Cohn strongly opposed the president’s plan to slap tariffs on steel and aluminium imports and worked to provide exemptions to US allies such as Canada and Mexico.

Mr Cohn played a central role in helping Mr Trump enact a sweeping tax overhaul law, co-ordinating with members of Congress.

His departure has been worrisome for Capitol Hill Republicans and business groups who have been concerned that Mr Trump may install more protectionist economic policies amid a renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement.